OG article by abc7chicago January 5, 2026 Legendary boxer Mike Tyson has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Chicago-based marijuana branding company Carma, alleging widespread fraud through kickback schemes, unauthorized executive bonuses, and extravagant personal expenditures. Court records reviewed by ABC7 Chicago detail claims that these practices caused tens of millions in losses for Tyson and other plaintiffs. Attorneys for Tyson's former partners have strongly denied

OG article  by Illicit Gardens January 5, 2026 S1 Enterprises, parent of the Illicit cannabis brand operating in Missouri and New Jersey, has sold the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), creating the largest such program in the U.S. cannabis sector. This 100% employee-owned structure grants tax-exempt status as an S Corporation, mitigating federal burdens under Section 280E and freeing cash for growth, innovation, and benefits. Over 500 employees gain long-ter

OG article  by Anthony Martinelli January 5, 2026 Congressional negotiators have finalized a federal spending deal that omits a provision previously aimed at blocking the Justice Department from rescheduling marijuana. An earlier House committee version included language prohibiting funds for moving cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, but this was dropped in bipartisan talks. The agreement preserves a decade-old rider preventing federal interference with state medica

OG article  by Anthony Martinelli January 5, 2026 The U.S. Senate has confirmed Sara Carter Bailey as White House Drug Czar, following President Trump's nomination and weeks of procedural delays despite bipartisan backing. Bailey, a journalist known for reporting on the opioid crisis, border security, and drug trafficking, assumes the role amid shifting federal drug policies. She has voiced support for medical cannabis, calling it "a fantastic way" to manage illnesses like ca

OG article  by Tom Angell January 5, 2026 The U.S. Supreme Court has set oral arguments for March 2, 2026, in a case challenging federal restrictions on gun ownership for marijuana users. Meanwhile, a Congressional Research Service report indicates that rescheduling cannabis would relax advertising rules for the industry but not resolve most consumer penalties, like gun rights loss or employment barriers. The anti-reform group Smart Approaches to Marijuana has retained former

OG article  by Stone Slade January 5, 2026 Mysterious yellow "enforcement" notices have been appearing on the doors of smoke shops in Austin, Texas, sparking confusion and concern among business owners. Security footage from early January 2026 captured a bald man posting one such notice late at night at Smoke ATX without entering the store or speaking to staff. The bold red-lettered notice claimed a "Violation of Texas SB 2024," alleging that vapor products made in China vio

OG article by Lester Black January 6, 2026 Vireo Growth Inc. has acquired Eaze, a prominent California cannabis delivery service once valued at $700 million, for $47 million in an all-stock deal encompassing operations in California, Florida, and Colorado. California assets represent about 25% of the transaction. Eaze encountered past issues, including a 2021 executive's guilty plea in bank fraud, expansion mergers, and a 2024 foreclosure auction sale for $54 million to a f

OG article by Dustin Walsh January 6, 2026 A Michigan Court of Claims judge has denied the state Attorney General's motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association challenging a new 24% wholesale marijuana tax effective January 1. The tax, passed via House Bill 4951 without supermajority support, is alleged to violate the constitution and the voter-initiated Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA). Judge Sima Patel ruled factual d

OG article by Victoria Holley January 6, 2026 The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission has approved new emergency regulations and issued one cultivator license as the state implements voter-approved medical marijuana from the November 2024 election. Described as highly restrictive compared to other states, the program advances cautiously with ongoing rule adjustments for supply chain applications. During a recent meeting, commissioners addressed patient needs, hearing testim

OG article by Lauren Henry/KFOR January 6, 2026 The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has released statistics highlighting extensive marijuana trafficking issues in the state. Reports indicate a significant portion of licensed grows are linked to illegal operations, with thousands of farms involved in black market diversion. Authorities have conducted numerous raids, seizing large quantities of unlicensed product destined for out-of-state markets. Officials describe "shocking" le

OG article by Kyle Jaeger January 6, 2026 Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has expressed strong opposition to President Donald Trump's executive order for rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III, calling it a "gateway drug" and drawing from his brother's fatal overdose. Scott distinguishes understanding for medical marijuana, legalized in Florida in 2016, from broader changes. He noted a 2024 recreational ballot measure received majority but not the required 60% support. Scott question

OG article by Kyle Jaeger January 6, 2026 A political committee backed by major marijuana companies, known as the American Rights and Reform PAC (previously Legalize America), donated an additional $1.05 million to President Donald Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC in the period before his executive order on cannabis rescheduling, per recent FEC filings. This comprised a $1 million contribution in July and $50,000 in November, raising the PAC's total donations to $2.05 million. Th